On the 23rd of January, the San Marcos community lost a beloved senior, Samantha Ortiz Altamira, to an undiagnosed case of cancer. Samantha was a cherished student full of compassion, empathy, and an abundance of love to give. She consistently came to school with a positive attitude, determined to give it her all, no matter the situation. Her bright presence and gentle soul will be deeply missed by her peers, teachers, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing her.
Samantha was a volunteer for the bilingual Ambassadors, aiming to help children in their future careers. As a student, Samantha was prepared at all times and had a never-ending work ethic. Her kind-hearted personality, humor, and sheer flexibility made teamwork seamless, never letting another student feel excluded. Outside of the classroom, Samantha had a sturdy reputation of being a motherly figure, always there to support her friends, offering open ears at all times with absolutely no judgment. Samantha was also a big giver, whether it was making her nearest and dearest laugh or covering their lunches, she was such a light to be around. A friend of Samantha’s will always remember her laugh, one that filled the room with joy and was entirely her own. “I only really did see her at the football games, but she always came with such good energy…I got to draw red and blue dots on her face at one of the games, and her vibe made me want to be her friend,” said another close friend of Samantha’s.
In her time as a bilingual ambassador, Samantha underwent reclassification, where she received a passing score on the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC), showing her strength in reading, writing, and speaking in English, a skillset that could be helpful in many careers.
There was a memorial for Samantha on February 10th at San Marcos High School in the cafeteria, where friends, family, teachers, and anyone wanting to share their condolences could attend. There was a candle lighting ceremony, followed by a moment of silence to appreciate Samantha’s life and her impact on our community. Friends shared sentimental messages of their beloved friend, reflecting on core memories they had made with her in the past. Teachers spoke on Samantha’s endless amount of diligence, kindness, and personality within their classrooms. One teacher shared how Samantha could always be counted on for her humor during the K-dramas royal time period. Towards the end of the memorial, attendees were invited to keep their candle and take home a flowering potted plant in memory of Samantha, and all the joy that she brought.
Despite the fact that Samantha’s time with the San Marcos community was cut too short, we will always remember her and the endless amount of joy she brought to our school. In recent times, San Marcos has faced too many tragic deaths, and if you are ever feeling overwhelmed, always feel free to reach out to your counselor or spend some time in the wellness center. Please take care of yourselves and each other while we process through these moments of grief.
There is a gofundme set up for Samantha’s family, if you are able to do so please donate 
